Fifth-wheel.



Patented Aug. l9, I902. J. WATTS. FIFTH WHEEL.

(Application filed m. no, 1909.)

(No Model.)

74 2' f7: @8868: Inven for:

UNITED STATES P T NT QFFICE.

JOHN WVATTS, OF AKRON, OHIO.

FlFTH-WH EEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofl'letters Patent N 0. 707,189, dated August 19, 1902.

Application filed March 29, 1902.

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be'it known that 1, JOHN WATTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fifth-WVheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in ball-bearing fifth-wheels for carriages, buggies, and other road-vehicles.

The objects of my invention are to adapt the ball-bearing to a three-quarters fifthwheel as well as to a complete circle, to prevent dirt from the outside entering the ballchannel when the front axle is turned, and to retain the balls against escaping from the groove in the lower half when the upper half is separated from it either purposely or by accident.

To the accomplishment of the aforesaid objects my invention consists. in the peculiar and novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference-numerals indicate like parts in the difierent figures, Figure 1 is a plan of my invention with the ends of the bolster and spring broken away; Fig.'2, a section of the same enlarged at the line a of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a front elevation of the same, and Fig. 4 a" plan of the lower half and aille with ends broken away.

Referring to the figures, 1 is the lower half of the fifth-wheel, resting on and secured to the wooden part 2 and metal part 3 of the axle. In the upper face of the lower half 1 is a channel 4:, that is more than semicircular in section, preferably three-quarters of a, circle, or nearly that, but exceeding a semicircle, so that the opening isless in width than the greater diameter of the channel. This channel extends at the right end of the lower half to that end to afforda place for inserting the balls, but does not extend to the other end, but terminates before reaching it, thus leav- Serial a. 100,508. on iiibdl.)

ends are strengthened' by'the usual cross-' brace 9. Bythis arrangement and construction the balls fulfil their'purpose of preventing friction between the upper and lower halves of the fifth-wheel and when once in-' sorted and the plug 6 secured cannot escape when for anypurpose or by any means the upperhalf is removed or lifted, while as the channels stops short of the ends of the lower Having th'us described my invention, what I claim, and desire'to secure by Letters Patout, is-- j 1.- An improved fifth-wheel less than a circle, the lower half of which has a round ballchannel open at the top less in width than the greatest diameter of the channel, one end of said channel'being closed by an integral stop, and the other'by a detachable plug, substantially as shown and described.

2. An improved fifth-wheel, less than a circle, the-lower half .ofwhich has a round ballchannel open at ,the top,-the top opening being less in width than the greatest diameter of the channel, said channels being closed at one end with a detachable plug, with balls fitted to run in said lower half and project above its top, and an upper half concentric with the lower, having a fiat under face to ride on said balls, and having flanges to overhang the edges of the lower half, substantially as shown and described. 7

In testimony that'Iclaim-the above I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WATTS. .In presence of- C. E. HUMPHREY, MAUDE ZWIsLER.

half at each-end dirt cannot enter it in turning the vehicle. 

